I was so happy to see that my white foxglove had not left the garden.
I had no white blooms last year. I wondered if it was gone.
Foxglove blooms are some of my favorites.
Flower
White Foxglove Returns
A Visit from my Gran
I have had some consolation in my isolation.
I have been determined to make masks for my family.
I got my supplies ready only to discover my sewing machine was broken.
I mentioned this to my dad yesterday. He said he had one in his shop.
We pulled out an old dusty case from under a workbench.
This morning I opened it to find a treasure beyond measure.
My Gran’s machine is darling. I squealed with glee for the first time in weeks.
My great grandmother taught me how to sew when I was young.
We cut patterns out of newspaper and made doll clothes.
I sat there delicately touching the machine and feeling connected to these two women.
They lived through plague and wars. They supported their families. They managed.
So I will be sewing with my Gran and my great grandmother for a bit.
I don’t feel so alone now. They are with me. I have the skills they taught me.
I am grateful for the past coming for a visit during this tumultuous present.
What a gift!
Flower
Popping in with Star Double Pop Star
We are fine. Much has transpired. Staying safe is not easy. Please follow precautions.
I wanted to share this gorgeous dianthus from the fairy garden.
It is magical!
This is Star Double Pop Star Dianthus.
This is its second year in this location.
It seems to be very happy here.
I hope all of you are able to stay well.
Wash hands, wear a mask, social distancing, stay home…you know the drill.
I miss us.
Flow
Dear Followers
I will not be posting for a while. I do not want you to be concerned.
I have other necessary tasks at hand.
I want you to know how important you have been to me these past years.
There is a reason for my garden. It came from pain.
My home has been a beautiful prison. My daughter’s epilepsy was its bars.
She is seizure-free now, but damage was done to us both.
I grew where I was planted. I had a secret garden that no one could see.
We live among woods, down a long drive, inside a gate along a river.
I shared my garden as the Flower with all of you so someone else could enjoy it.
My connection with nature always gets me through hardships. It will again now.
I will NOT be watching the television. I know what is going to happen.
My dream was to be a disease cowboy like Joe McCormick.
I have spent years studying diseases.
I was almost killed by my Smallpox vaccine as a baby. Vaccines were different in 1962.
Serum (IgGs/IgIV) from the Red Cross saved me. My dad tells the story often.
I wanted to go out in the world and save strangers from transmittable diseases.
Instead, I have been home saving my daughter from another type.
I will continue to find solace in my garden.
It is blooming profusely right now despite the weeds.
I WILL BE FINE. I know how to stay safe.
Take care of yourselves my precious followers. In a way, you saved me. Thank you.
Flower
Sweet Betsy
This plant was sent to me by one of my first garden blogger friends.
I will think of her every spring when it blooms.
Sweet Betsy’s scientific name is Trillium cuneatum.
It is also called toadshade because of the mottled coloration of its leaves.
It is thriving under the fig tree. Thanks Marian.
Flower
Seeing Stars
Starflowers are in full bloom today.
This variety of ipheion is named ‘Alberto Castillo.’
Some little forager gave this bunch a trim last week.
The petals have lovely green and brown stripes down their backsides.
I love seeing stars!
Flower
Daffodil Meme
I am a fan of variations on a theme.
I also like unusual daffodils.
Here are some of the many varieties blooming right now in my gardens.
They aren’t just yellow.
They aren’t all mellow.
Some have trumpets. (Like Dizzy Gillespie)
I must mention that the cups are called coronas. (These are not contagious.)
They have divisions named for their cup type or lack of one or petal curvature or blooms per stem… (Look Knight, there’s twee!)
A daffodil by another name, is a Narcissus.
FLOW
Goodbye Cheraw
My son has taken a new job. I am happy for him, but I will miss his former town. Cheraw was the homeplace of the jazz artist, Dizzy Gillespie.
Goodbye Dizzy!
Flower
OTHER CHERAW POST LINKS BELOW
https://floweralley.org/2016/04/13/im-getting-dizzy/
https://floweralley.org/2016/04/15/yellow-trumpets/
My Wild Friends
My wild friends live in dens.
I must to climb up banks to peek into their dwellings.
They were all out and about yesterday afternoon. Hi, Ho nobody home!
The highest and biggest den was under some tree roots on a cliff.
This may be a coyote or a bobcat’s home.
Smaller dens likely belong to ground hogs/woodchucks or fox kits.
There were no clear tracks to identify the residents due to recent rains.
The woods are full of the trails and dens of my wild friends.
I love my neighbors.
Flow
floweralley 